Maybe I’m overdramatic for investing emotionally in the wired vs wireless headphone debate. Or maybe I’m bringing light to a seldom-mentioned issue that plagues today’s society.

Wired headphones have more to offer than meets the eye. Starting of course with the obvious: they’re an iconic fashion staple. Most of us are old enough to remember when Apple’s marketing campaign relied heavily on the stringy cords of EarPods. I know I was not the only one who looked forward to strutting around with my new cool girl accessory.

WiredItGirls, an Instagram account with over 10k followers run by Shelby Hull, is the embodiment of the je-ne-sais-quoi that wired headphones have. Filling our feeds with the crème-de-la-crème of It Girls from Emma Chamberlain to Charli XCX who choose to be wired, Shelby Hull reminds us of the different ways wired headphones can serve as accessories.

Fashion and trend experts like Vogue and Teen Vogue try to break down the trend, asking why and how such an archaic and woefully outdated accessory is making a comeback (if you ask me, they were never gone). The major driving force behind their resurgence could be the magnetic It Girls wearing them. Who doesn’t want to emulate Bella Hadid or Lilly Rose Depp? Just like all other trends, we follow those who inspire us. Naturally, when our favorite nepotism babies (as they are affectionately called, with a smidge of jealousy) declare wires are in, we happily agree.

It could also be the message they project. A crystal-clear declaration of do not speak to me, do not bother me that wireless earphones just don’t convey. Wireless earphones hide behind hair, hats, and scarves. They can be easily missed. They can also be worn as a status symbol. A way of saying, hey, I can afford these little tusk-like earplugs. Can you? Wires are loud, present, and impenetrable. The act of taking out a wired earbud and glaring at someone who dares interrupt your listening is nothing short of iconic.

Perhaps practicality is your preference. The thought of adding another device to your army of gadgets that need charging (phone, laptop, camera, power bank, tablet, kindle… the list goes on) might give you a headache. I wouldn’t blame you. It could be that the thought of accidentally dropping more than $50 down a sewer drain makes you nauseous. Or you just don’t want to spend a small fortune on something easily stolen.

What truly makes wires special is that they make the perfect wingman. When you want to share your music with your crush, and you pass them an earbud, is that not special? How could we, as a society, bare to let go of such a tender moment? The delicate movements so as not to pull the wires out, the forced proximity, the bumping shoulders. What’s not to love?

No matter your stance on the wired vs wireless argument, you must admit there is a certain quality that wireless earphones will never be able to replicate. It’s more than nostalgia or favoring function. It’s a way of life.